Mitch Lightfoot takes part in Kansas Jayhawks’ practice, shootaround before NCAA opener
Wearing a black left leg sleeve and knee brace, Mitch Lightfoot accepted passes from big man coach Norm Roberts and attempted some short jumpers and hook shots during the Kansas men’s basketball team’s 30-minute workout Wednesday afternoon at Dickies Arena, site of Thursday’s first-round NCAA Tournament game against Texas Southern.
Lightfoot, KU’s 6-foot-8 senior forward from Gilbert, Arizona, also fired up some deep jumpers and followed the path of the ball to the rim, appearing to test the knee he sprained in the second half of Saturday’s Big 12 tournament title game win over Texas Tech at T-Mobile Center.
Lightfoot who had several family members watching KU’s open shootaround from the front row of the stands, remains listed as “day-to-day” entering the tourney opener, set for an 8:57 p.m. tip on Thursday (truTV).
“Well, it’s still day-to-day. He practiced some today,” said KU coach Bill Self, providing an update to the media. The Jayhawks also held a full practice before the shootaround Wednesday. “He did not go full, but he did do some contact stuff, but it was limited. So we’ll wait and see how he feels tomorrow. But we’re hopeful he’s available to us. Like I said before, we’re not going to put him out there if we think there’s, if that puts him in some form of risk. But he’s made tremendous improvements since Saturday.”
Meanwhile, senior forward David McCormack, who has been bothered by a sore foot and well as some knee discomfort of late, also practiced and took part in the shootaround.
Asked Wednesday about any possible “minute restrictions ,” the 6-10 McCormack responded: “I go in the game just ready to play. I always come prepared to play. We haven’t talked about anything about minutes, but I’m here for the team and I’m here to win.”
This story was originally published March 16, 2022 at 4:07 PM with the headline "Mitch Lightfoot takes part in Kansas Jayhawks’ practice, shootaround before NCAA opener."
